Cronin Named In Ireland Team

Ireland Head Coach Joe Schmidt has named five Munster players his matchday squad to face Argentina on Saturday, and see's Munster's James Cronin included for the first time.

Having impressed in last weekend's opening test against the Pumas, Dave Kilcoyne is promoted to a starting position in the front row with captain Paul O'Connell retaining his place in the second row.

In the backs, Simon Zebo is another Munster representative to retain his starting place, the Corkman lining out on the left wing.

Conor Murray is joined by James Cronin in the replacements, with the Munster prop hoping to win his first Irish cap on Saturday.

A product of the Munster Academy, Cronin initially impressed at club level, playing underage with Ballincollig RFC, youths rugby at Highfield RFC and senior rugby with Dolphin RFC. Also representing Munster Youths and Munster A, he received a development contract for season 2013/14 after just two years in the GreencoreMunster Rugby Academy. Grasping the opportunity with both hands, the Ballincollig native went on to become a regular in the Munster team.

Having scored a try on his competitive debut for the province in September's PRO12 clash against Edinburgh, Cronin went on to make his Heineken Cup debut against the same side in October at Murrayfield.

Such was the impressiveness of his form, December saw him awarded a two-year contract extension that will keep him at the province until at least June 2016.

Closing out the season out with 26 appearances for the Munster, seven of which were in the Heineken Cup, Cronin did enough to place himself on the radar of Joe Schmidt and became one of four uncapped players named in the summer tour to Argentina.

Relive the action from Saturday night at Irish Independent Park and get the post-match thoughts of man of the match Keith Earls as Munster enjoyed a 22-10 win over Glasgow Warriors in Round 16 of the Guinness PRO12.